14 managers who could end the Seattle Mariners’ 14-year playoff drought

It’s great theater, sure. The packed stadiums. The towel waving. The players celebrating as if their lives depend on every strikeout, home run or defensive gem.

One only needed to watch the Chicago Cubs’ Game 4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday in the NLDS clincher to see how a baseball team can energize a city. The atmosphere at Wrigley Field was more like CenturyLink Field in January than it was the usual crowds that take in America’s pastime.

When Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista notched the g0-ahead, three-run homer in Game 5 of the ALDS on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers, the point was reinforced. Playoff baseball can be a spectacle unlike anything else.

In the Pacific Northwest, it’s nearing the point where an entire generation of baseball fans doesn’t know that feeling. If you’re 21, you were alive when the Mariners last made the playoffs in 2001, but you were 7. The only thing I worried about at that age was learning to dress myself. (Still haven’t quite figured it out.)

So when new Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto fired manager Lloyd McClendon last week after two seasons — one good, one bad — there was a familiarity to the proceedings. Since Lou Piniella’s departure, Seattle has had eight managers, including interim skippers, and hasn’t made the playoffs despite the inclusion of the second American League wild card and more parity around the league.

Dipoto, touted as a mix of scout and sabermetrician, said he wants to find the balance with the club’s next manager; a guy who might make a decision based on a hunch but who understands and uses the advanced analytical information used by the league’s best.

Though he intimated he wants to keep the search quiet, there’s already been rampant speculation about McClendon’s successor.

Here are 14 candidates who could end the Mariners’ 14-year playoff drought.

Tim Bogar isn't a name that will be familiar to the casual baseball fan, but he appears to be the early favorite to succeed McClendon.
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Bogar, 48, spent this past season as Dipoto's special assistant in Anaheim, but the former .228 career hitter for the Mets, Astros and Dodgers has a proven track record of managing success in the minor leagues, where he amassed a 362-266 record and reached his league's championship four times.
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A disciple of Cubs manager Joe Maddon and Indians manager Terry Francona, Bogar went 14-8 last season as the Rangers' interim manager after Ron Washington abruptly resigned. less

Tim Bogar isn't a name that will be familiar to the casual baseball fan, but he appears to be the early favorite to succeed McClendon.
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Bogar, 48, spent this past season as Dipoto's special ... more

Photo: Matt Brown / Getty Images

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Bud Black has long been rumored as a Mariners managerial candidate, mostly because of his local connection.
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The 58-year-old went to Mark Morris High School and Lower Columbia College in Longview before going on to a 15-year MLB career with the Royals, Giants, Indians, Mariners and Blue Jays.
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As a manager, Black compiled a 649-713 record with the Padres from 2007 to 2015 until he was fired by GM A.J. Preller in mid-June. The Padres never made the playoffs under Black's watch, so he'd fit right in with the Mariners. less

Bud Black has long been rumored as a Mariners managerial candidate, mostly because of his local connection.
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The 58-year-old went to Mark Morris High School and Lower Columbia College in Longview ... more

Photo: Denis Poroy / Getty Images

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Phil Nevin has been linked to managerial jobs with the Nationals, Padres, Marlins and Mariners.
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The 44-year-old is apparently one of the most sought-after candidates despite the fact he's never managed higher than Triple-A.
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Having spent the bulk of his 12-year career as an outfielder and first baseman with the Padres, Nevin might be best suited to land in San Diego. But a report from USA Today said he's interviewed with Miami and Washington and was expected to interview with Seattle. Nevin's latest managing gig was with the Reno Aces, the Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliate. less

Phil Nevin has been linked to managerial jobs with the Nationals, Padres, Marlins and Mariners.
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The 44-year-old is apparently one of the most sought-after candidates despite the fact he's never ... more

Photo: Mark Cunningham / Getty Images

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This is Alex Cora, the younger brother of former Mariners second baseman Joey Cora.
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Alex Cora currently serves as an analyst for ESPN, but he's interviewed with the Padres, Marlins and Nationals, according to reports. Cora, who turns 40 this month, was a .243 hitter during 14 big-league seasons.
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Hiring him wouldn't bring the same fanfare it would if they hired Joey Cora, but little brother seems like the more qualified of the two candidates. less

This is Alex Cora, the younger brother of former Mariners second baseman Joey Cora.
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Alex Cora currently serves as an analyst for ESPN, but he's interviewed with the Padres, Marlins and Nationals, ... more

Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

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While we're talking about fan favorites, Raul Ibanez seems like a logical topic for discussion.
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Ibanez had three stints with the Mariners that totaled 11 of his 19 big-league seasons. The former outfielder has no managing experience. But he would be the sort of creative hire the Mariners basically never try.
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Also, he was a finalist for the Tampa Bay Rays job last year before withdrawing his name from consideration. Could he end up back in Seattle? less

While we're talking about fan favorites, Raul Ibanez seems like a logical topic for discussion.
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Ibanez had three stints with the Mariners that totaled 11 of his 19 big-league seasons. The former ... more

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

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Dan Wilson would be a sentimental choice after he spent 12 seasons of his 14-year big-league career with the Mariners.
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The former catcher currently serves as the club's minor league roving catching coordinator. The Mariners brought him on the big-league staff in September, raising suspicion that he may be in line for a bigger role.
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But with McClendon's firing and Dipoto cleansing much of the minor-league staff, it's unclear what Wilson's role with the organization will be going forward. less

Dan Wilson would be a sentimental choice after he spent 12 seasons of his 14-year big-league career with the Mariners.
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The former catcher currently serves as the club's minor league roving ... more

Photo: Ron Vesely / MLB Photos via Getty Images

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Scott Servais has a connection to Dipoto, having served as his assistant general manager after being hired in 2011.
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He was interviewed for Dipoto's former position, but the Angels opted to hire Billy Eppler, a former assistant GM for the Yankees.
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Servais, 48, had an 11-year big league career with the Astros, Cubs, Giants and Rockies. (Daniel Lippitt/AFP/Getty Images) less

Scott Servais has a connection to Dipoto, having served as his assistant general manager after being hired in 2011.
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He was interviewed for Dipoto's former position, but the Angels opted to hire ... more

Photo: DANIEL LIPPITT / AFP/Getty Images

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Dave Roberts will always be known for stealing second base for the Red Sox in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. The play sparked Boston as it overcame a 3-0 series deficit and went on to win the World Series.
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Roberts has been San Diego's bench coach the past two seasons and has been rumored as a potential replacement after interim manager Pat Murphy was fired recently. less

Dave Roberts will always be known for stealing second base for the Red Sox in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. The play sparked Boston as it overcame a 3-0 series deficit and went on to win the ... more

Photo: Denis Poroy / Getty Images

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Gary DiSarcina has served as the Angels' third base coach the past two seasons after leading the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox to the Governors' Cup in 2013, losing to the Durham Bulls.
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That earned him Baseball America's minor league manager of the year and got him an interview with the Mariners, who went on to hire Lloyd McClendon.
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DiSarcina spent two seasons as an assistant GM with the Angels (one with Tony Reagins, one with Dipoto) so there's been speculation the 47-year-old will be brought in for an interview. less

Gary DiSarcina has served as the Angels' third base coach the past two seasons after leading the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox to the Governors' Cup in 2013, losing to the Durham Bulls.
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That earned ... more

Photo: Matt Brown / Getty Images

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Joe McEwing, the third base coach for the Chicago White Sox, has been mentioned as a possibility. The White Sox finished 76-86, same record as the Mariners. Yawn.

Joe McEwing, the third base coach for the Chicago White Sox, has been mentioned as a possibility. The White Sox finished 76-86, same record as the Mariners. Yawn.

Photo: Ron Vesely / Getty Images

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Charlie Montoyo (pictured right) is currently the Tampa Bay Rays' third base coach. However, he's also the winningest manager in the history of the Durham Bulls after eight seasons with Tampa's Triple-A affiliate.
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Montoyo, who is Puerto Rican, has a history of success. He won the International League South Division seven times and captured the Governors' Cup twice. less

Charlie Montoyo (pictured right) is currently the Tampa Bay Rays' third base coach. However, he's also the winningest manager in the history of the Durham Bulls after eight seasons with Tampa's Triple-A ... more

Photo: Tony Firriolo / MLB Photos via Getty Images

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It wouldn't be a shock if Dipoto reached out to Mike Butcher, who was fired as Angels pitching coach this week along with hitting coach Don Baylor.
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Butcher helped Angels manager Mike Scioscia build the club into an AL West power after getting hired before the 2007 season. less

It wouldn't be a shock if Dipoto reached out to Mike Butcher, who was fired as Angels pitching coach this week along with hitting coach Don Baylor.
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Butcher helped Angels manager Mike Scioscia ... more

Photo: Matt Brown / Getty Images

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Remember this guy?
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Don Wakamatsu led the Mariners to an 85-77 record in 2009, then was fired by then-GM Jack Zduriencik when yet another poorly constructed Seattle team got off to a 42-70 start in 2010.
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Wakamatsu is currently the Royals' bench coach. And at 52, he definitely deserves another chance after coming close to landing the Rays job last year. less

Remember this guy?
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Don Wakamatsu led the Mariners to an 85-77 record in 2009, then was fired by then-GM Jack Zduriencik when yet another poorly constructed Seattle team got off to a 42-70 start in ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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All right, there's a 99.9 percent chance this isn't happening.
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But what if the Mariners considered Lou Piniella?
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Sure, he's 72. But he's also in good health and the only manager in franchise history to lead the Mariners to the playoffs. Nobody is more popular in Seattle than "Sweet Lou."
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Plus, 72 is the new 52. In 2003, manager Jack McKeon led the then-Florida Marlins to the World Series at 72. Current vice president Joe Biden is 72, and he could be the next U.S. president, should he decide to run.
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Again, there's no way this is happening. But the Mariners would become more fun if it did. less

All right, there's a 99.9 percent chance this isn't happening.
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But what if the Mariners considered Lou Piniella?
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Sure, he's 72. But he's also in good health and the only manager in ... more

Photo: The Sporting News / Sporting News via Getty Images

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14 managers who could end the Seattle Mariners' 14-year playoff drought